The 2020 California Proposition 17 is a ballot measure that appeared on the ballot in the 2020 California elections on November 3. Prop 17 amended the Constitution of California to allow people who are on parole to vote.[1] Due to the passage of this proposition, more than 50,000 people in California who are currently on parole and have completed their prison sentence are now eligible to vote and to run for public office.[2] This proposition also provides that all those on parole in the future will be allowed to vote and run for public office as well. The work of Proposition 17 comes out of a history of addressing felony disenfranchisement in the United States.[3] California voters approved this measured by a margin of roughly 18 percentage points.[4]
Proposition 17
November 3, 2020 (2020-11-03)
Restores Right to Vote After Completion of Prison Term
Results
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
9,985,568
58.55%
No
7,069,173
41.45%
Valid votes
17,054,741
95.89%
Invalid or blank votes
730,410
4.11%
Total votes
17,785,151
100.00%
Registered voters/turnout
22,047,448
80.67%
For
70%–80%
60%–70%
50%–60%
Against
70%–80%
60%–70%
50%–60%
Backgroundedit
Appearing on ballot in the 2020 California elections on November 3, 2020, the proposed state constitutional amendment was originally introduced as California Assembly Constitutional Amendment No. 6 (ACA 6) by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty in January 2019.[5] ACA 6 passed the California State Assembly by a vote of 54-19 on September 5, 2019, and was approved by the California State Senate by a vote of 28-9 on June 24, 2020.[6] After being put on the ballot, ACA 6 was given the ballot designation of Proposition 17.
Under California law, there is a distinction between probation[7] and parole.[8] Probation is the part of the criminal sentence, and allows those with felonies to finish their sentence outside of the prison. Parole begins upon release from prison when their sentence ends.[9] As of July 2020, the Constitution of California allows someone on probation to vote, but prohibits people on parole from voting until their parole is completed. The effect of Proposition 17 is that all individuals on probation or parole are allowed to vote.[10]
Voting rights in other statesedit
States where people do not lose their right to vote
(even if they are incarcerated).
Maine, Vermont
States where people's voting rights are lost while incarcerated, but restored after release (able to vote if they are on parole).
Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah
States where people's voting rights are restored after they complete their sentence (including parole and/or probation and pay any fees/fines).
Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin
States where people's voting rights are lost indefinitely for specific offenses and can require a waiting period after their sentence is completed and/or a Governor's pardon.
ACA 6 was co-sponsored by #Cut50, All of Us or None, American Civil Liberties Union of California, Anti-Recidivism Coalition, Californians United for a Responsible Budget, Initiate Justice, League of Women Voters of California, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, People Over Profits San Diego, Secretary of State Alex Padilla, Vote Allies, White People 4 Black Lives. It was also supported by 118 organizations and local governments.[12] The official Argument in Favor was submitted by Carol Moon Goldberg, President of the League of Women Voters of California, Jay Jordan, executive director of Californians for Public Safety, and Assemblymember Kevin McCarty.[13]
ACA 6 was opposed by Election Integrity Project California, Inc.[51] The official Argument Against was submitted by Harriet Salarno, Founder of Crime Victims United of California, Jim Nielsen, retired Chairman of the California Board of Prison Terms, and Ruth Weiss, Vice President of the Election Integrity Project California.[52]
Newspaper editorialsedit
Newspaper Editorials That Oppose Prop 17
Newspaper Editorial
Position
San Mateo Daily Journal
Oppose
Bakersfield California Editorial Board
Oppose
The Desert Sun Editorial Board
Oppose
Pollingedit
In order to pass, it needs a simple majority (>50%).
^Key: A – all adults RV – registered voters LV – likely voters V – unclear
Referencesedit
^"California Proposition 17, Voting Rights Restoration for Persons on Parole Amendment (2020)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
^"Voting Rights for People on Parole: Proposition 17". Initiate Justice. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
^"Felony Disenfranchisement: A Primer". The Sentencing Project. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
^Hooks, Chris Nichols, Kris. "What We Know About California Proposition Results". www.capradio.org. Retrieved November 11, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^"ACA-6 Elections". California Legislative Information.
^"Probation in California". Network of Care. Los Angeles County. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
^"Sentencing, Incarceration & Parole of Offenders". California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. State of California. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
^"Court-related impact of criminal justice relalignment". www.courts.ca.gov. California Judicial Branch. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
^Myers, John (July 2, 2020). "Here are the 12 propositions on California's November ballot". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
^"Felon Voting Rights". www.ncsl.org. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
^"Bill Analysis - Senate Elections And Constitutional Amendments". Retrieved July 30, 2020.
^"Argument in Favor of Proposition 17" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 1, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
^"November 3, 2020 Endorsements | Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club". Archived from the original on October 5, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
^"Official Club Endorsements". www.wehodems.org. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
^"2020 State Proposition Endorsements". BLACK WOMEN ORGANIZED FOR POLITICAL ACTION. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
^"Voting Guides Archive". Libertarian Party of California. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
^"Ballot Measures". Los Angeles County Democratic Party. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
^"Election 2020: PFP endorsements on ballot propositions - Peace and Freedom Party". peaceandfreedom.org. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.